The Most Beautiful Celtic Themed Motherhood Photography Session

It was over a year ago when I first met the beautiful mother (Lindsay) who was the focus of this photography session. We met at the Rock Your Bump trade show that I had the pleasure of being a vendor at in April of 2017. Lindsay came to me with the vision to capture the end of her breastfeeding journey with her youngest daughter. Lindsay also explained that she wanted to capture – what she coined – a ‘Celtic breastfeeding family photography session’ right here in Red Deer, Alberta. Now, while I am known for fine art creative photography, this caught me off guard just a little. I had never seen a Celtic breastfeeding photography session before and had no idea what that really meant – but through the consultation process, I saw Lindsay’s vision and why the theme was so important to her. From there we planned what you see a very small sample of here (there were 90+ photos at the end for her to select from).

Creative fine art photography sessions can also come with specific props that I provide. This session begged for floral crowns. If you know my work, you know that I LOVE floral crowns and babies adorned with flowers. I get giddy just thinking about them and the crowns you see in these images came from Earthy Accents in Bentley, Alberta. It is seriously one of the best little flower shops in Alberta and they always create exactly what I am looking for when I decide last moment that “this” is what I need. Go say “Hi” and tell Leslie (the gorgeous owner) that you saw her work here – it will make her day!

Motherhood photography has been an amazing niche to fall into with my family photography business. Motherhood is a period of life to be celebrated and remembered, while your baby (or babies) are still little. This motherhood photography session was the second fine art motherhood session that I have shot in two years (both in Central Alberta), and created imagery around that is both beautiful and in my opinion – of heirloom quality. Creating images that tickle the soul and capture the imagination is the most exciting aspect of creative fine art photography, and this motherhood photography session was no exception. The visual connections between a mother and child is a privilege to capture, and it goes without saying that the passion a mother has for her kids is just breathtaking to photograph.

The very best part of these sessions is allowing the family photography session to flow naturally. I run all of my sessions with the hope to be done 1-2 hours from start time – longer than the average family photography session. With all the preparation involved in a creative fine art photography session, it would be a waste to rush the photography and not let moments like these images depict form naturally. From a perfectly plump baby (I seriously couldn’t get over the rolls on that sweet darling – my babies were all very petite) to a perfectly confident and assured little girl their interactions with their momma were 100% genuine, authentic and real. Very little of this session was posed – and even that is a stretch as far as a description. I asked Lindsay to stand in certain spots so that the sun could be perfect for the images and lo and behold – the moments created themselves. Perfect pictures to top off a perfect and inspiring evening in Central Alberta.

When you look at a motherhood photography session, it would likely be easy to fall in love with all the pictures. I sure can – the look in the children’s eyes as they gaze at their mother. The look in the mother’s eyes as she admires every inch of the child(ren) that she created in her body. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about all the feels that you can get when you witness love in all of its glory …

But wait.

It all can’t be that easy? Was there a difficult part of this session that seemed flawless from start to finish? All fantastic shoots have their challenges and for this one – like all photography sessions, there are always a couple of little things that throw a wrench into the game. The first in this case? Thistle. That silly prickly weed that is always flourishing around the ground in Alberta in the middle of summer. It is a hazard for the littles, and for the bigs as Lindsay and I trounced through tons of it to find the perfect light and location for these images.

I will add one more thing too … mosquitoes. There are always millions of mosquitoes in Alberta in the summertime.

share this post:

napcp contributormeet Suzanne Taylor773

About the Contributor: Hello! I have been a photographer for over 10 years now and have been photographing children almost exclusively for the past Five years. I have a 7-year-old son and 5-year-old Girl/Boy/Girl triplets that keep me busy and always inspired.

NAPCP Announces Photographer of the Year: 2018!

We are thrilled to announce our 2018 Photographer of the Year, Tracy Sweeney of Elan Studio. One of Tracy’s winning images was featured on a digital billboard in New York City’s immense, brilliant, and monumental Times Square. In addition to being one of the highest recipients of wins and medallions in both NAPCP’s digital and […]

January 2019 Inspired Magazine: Featuring Tracy Sweeney!

Our all-new Inspired is HERE and we’re celebrating! We LOVE this magazine, and we’re so, so excited to share what we’ve been working hard on these past few months! Brand new features, a special Black and White issue, and alllll the do’s for sharing your gifts and giving back to the community you love! You’re […]

We’re Loving This Newborn Session with an Older Baby

Though most newborn photographers subscribe to the 7-10 day ideal for posed newborn photography, some of my best and most successful newborn sessions take place when the baby is closer to 2 weeks old. A few days isn’t going to make a huge difference in the sleepiness or flexibility factors, but those extra days can […]

December 2018 Inspired Magazine: Featuring Megan Gonzalez!

NAPCP’s December 2018 issue of Inspired magazine features Megan Gonzalez of Upon Waves, a feature article by newborn photographer Jessica Lynch, information about the 2019 Educational Summit and more! Snuggle up with a warm blanket and dive right in! Print your copy of Inspired straight from MagCloud! Share your favorite pieces with friends, family and […]

We are so delighted that you are here. The National Association of Professional Child Photographers is an association whose mission is to promote and support the artistry and integrity of professional child photographers. To accomplish this mission, NAPCP provides the most comprehensive resources for its members, bringing together a community of passionate artists committed to growth in their skills, their artistry, and their businesses.

NAPCP.com (formally pronounced "NAP-C-P") is a place where professional child photographers can come and connect, learn, teach, aspire and grow. It is also a valuable resource for parents who are looking for a professional child photographer in their area, and want to be inspired and educated about our specialized industry.

Our all-new Inspired is HERE and we’re celebrating! We LOVE this magazine, and we’re so, so excited to share what we’ve been working hard on these past few months! Brand new features, a special Black and White issue, and alllll the do’s for sharing your gifts and giving back to the community you love! You’re […]

NAPCP’s December 2018 issue of Inspired magazine features Megan Gonzalez of Upon Waves, a feature article by newborn photographer Jessica Lynch, information about the 2019 Educational Summit and more! Snuggle up with a warm blanket and dive right in! Print your copy of Inspired straight from MagCloud! Share your favorite pieces with friends, family and […]

Hey, NAPCP! We hope you’re feeling refreshed and energized. We hopped right outta bed this morning because we’ve been looking forward to this day all weekend! Join us and our 6 amazing speakers, in Atlanta, Georgia, for the NAPCP Educational Summit! January 23, 2019 In one day you’ll learn about how being “discovered” is the […]